News & Politics - India bombings called coordinated attack

Lexis · 07-11-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Seven bombs hit Bombay's commuter rail network during rush hour Tuesday evening, killing 131 people and wounding more than 300 in what authorities called a well-coordinated terrorist attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility in the bombings, which came in quick succession — a common tactic employed by Kashmiri militants.

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India's major cities were put on high alert after the blasts. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called an emergency Cabinet meeting and said that "terrorists" were behind the attacks.

Chaos engulfed the crowded rail network in India's financial capital following the blasts that ripped apart train compartments as authorities struggled to treat the wounded amid heavy monsoon downpours. Doors and windows were blown off the train cars, and witnesses said body parts were strewn near stations.

Luggage and debris were spattered with blood. Survivors clutched bandages to their heads and faces, and some frantically dialed their cell phones.

An Indian news agency put the death toll at 131. Bombay Police Chief A.N. Roy said on Indian television that more than 300 were injured.

"We are busy in the rescue operation. Our first priority is to rescue the injured people," Roy said. Indian television showed video of bystanders carrying victims to ambulances and searching wreckage for survivors and bodies.

In Washington, the State Department said it had no information about whether there were any American casualties.

A senior Bombay police official, P.S. Pasricha, said the explosions were part of a well-coordinated attack. Vilasrao Deshmukh, the chief minister of Maharashtra state, where Bombay is located, said bombs had caused all seven blasts.

The Bombay bombings came hours after a series of grenade attacks by Islamic extremists killed eight people in the main city of India's part of Kashmir.

Police also reportedly carried out raids across the country following the Bombay blasts. One TV report said a suspect was in custody.

Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters that authorities had had some information that an attack was coming, "but place and time was not known."

India bombings called coordinated attack - Yahoo! News

Lain · 07-13-2006, 12:45 PM

It's sad to note that those who were trying to contact their families via' cel phone couldn't because the cel phones in India were jammed. Or at least from what I heard on MSNBC.

It's a bit scary that you can expect a terrorist attack (or at least huge massive ones) to happen on the 11th. 7/11, 9/11, etc.


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